Episodes
Thursday Aug 22, 2019
Be Bold and Realistic: Creating space for project plans that will work
Thursday Aug 22, 2019
Thursday Aug 22, 2019
Yawo Douvon and Barbara Jean-Claude from Haiti talk about the importance of being bold when it comes to admitting that something won't work. It takes courage to point out that goals and expectations are unrealistic, and that we might not get everything done. Getting good context analysis--even in emergencies--building solid donor relationships, carefully monitoring data, and being proactive in communications when something goes off track are all tips that can help you through a rocky project implementation. (French version will be coming the week of August 26th.)
Wednesday Feb 13, 2019
Digital Projects and the Danger of Expertise
Wednesday Feb 13, 2019
Wednesday Feb 13, 2019
Mark Malhotra from CARE’s Innovation team talks about the process of designing digital solutions, and the danger of trusting experts when it seems like they aren’t delivering what you need. Human centered design, frequent check ins, and setting clear expectations with consultants all feature as tips to make your next digital experience easier. Tip: just because someone else in an expert, it doesn’t mean you’re wrong.
Wednesday Feb 06, 2019
Processes and Privilege: How to prioritize innovative local partners in market solutions
Wednesday Feb 06, 2019
Wednesday Feb 06, 2019
Bob Rabatsky from Fintrac discusses his experiences as the Chief of Party for Feed the Future’s Partnering For Innovation, and what it teaches us about working with the private sector and market based solutions. Re-setting application processes to prioritize qualified local businesses, focusing on setting good milestones, and overcoming resistance to private sector solutions are some of his key takeaways.
Thursday Dec 13, 2018
Mistake Money, Premortems, and other ways to incentivize talking about failure
Thursday Dec 13, 2018
Thursday Dec 13, 2018
Susan Davis of Improve International talks about how we can incentivize talking about failure so we can make new mistakes rather than continuing to make the old ones. She also talks about how we can resolve problems as we find them in the Guidelines for Resolving Problems with Water Systems. Some tools she suggests are the Nakuru accord, pre-mortems, and innovative financing mechanisms—what she calls “Mistake Money”. What's the key? Getting communities involved in the conversation.
Wednesday Oct 31, 2018
Fourth Quarter Failure: How we got the FY18 budget wrong, and what we're doing now
Wednesday Oct 31, 2018
Wednesday Oct 31, 2018
Michelle Nunn discusses how CARE's FY18 budget missed the balance between audacious goals and operational excellence. She ends with a call to all staff to err on the side of candor and speak truth to power.